Traditional use of forests in Finland

Fishing and hunting werethe most important meansof living in mainland up to the beginnin of 1800.

Squirrel was one of the most important game animal besidesbeavers.

Year 1799

Tar production – major forest product

Tar was burned all over the countryfor sale and own use. There was big business in it and some people made a fortune.

Major use of tar was for wooden boats.The good market for tar continuedup to the end of 1800.

Large areas of pine forests were cutdown and there became a lack of construction materials.

Logs for house construction

Local people earned part of livingby selling construction logs to towns and abroad .

Only the best quality timber was selectively and extensively cut .

That time forest was considered to belong to everyman´s right.

Year 1712

Manual sawing of logs

Year 1764

Charcoal processing

Charcoal was also important forest product and consumed small size timber . Especially iron producing factories and blacksmiths used large amount s of charcoal . This period lasted up to 1950 and that time mainly for tranportationenergy.

1764

Traditional use of Forests in Finland

1700 luku

1800

1830

1850

1887 Evo

1862 -64